8 MARCH 2008, Page 46

Villanelle

‘If you can’t fight, buy a big house.’ Roger McGough

You opt for silence, sulk or grouse. The words that hurt can stay unsaid.

If you can’t fight, buy us all a big house.

The philosophy of talking? It’s Mickey Mouse according to you. You just see red. You opt for silence, sulk or grouse.

I want to scream, ‘Bastard! Scumbag! Louse!’ but take it out on the kids instead.

If you can’t fight, buy yourself a big house.

I beg for battle: are you man or mouse? You clamp the earphones to your head. You opt for silence, sulk or grouse.

Property’s a gamble, but you’ve got nouse. You’d rather file bills than come to bed. If you can’t fight, buy a big stupid house.

I tune myself in to Acid House and learn the art of playing dead. I opt for silence, sulk or grouse.

I keep my temper. You keep the house. The Riot Act remains unread.

We opt for silence, sulk or grouse. If you can’t fight, buy a fuck-off big house. Sîan Hughes